Need a Better Router? Confused about Speeds?

As you know, your router is a key part of your LCWA internet system. But it’s disappointing when I see a member spend upwards of $200 on one of those big “high-speed” routers out on the market. The thing is, those units can actually slow down your internet speed when used on the LCWA network, so please avoid those routers.

Why? Because LCWA is a radio network that runs at 5 Ghz, and those big routers normally also use the same 5 Ghz frequency to achieve their speed. Using the same band like that can lead to interference with your rooftop radio and slow down your internet. So again, please avoid those routers.

Rated Speed Not Usually the Issue

Also, a fast and expensive router is usually a waste of money because the incoming internet speed is the choke point, not the router. Think about it, these high-end routers often advertise 600 to 800 Mbps, but the LCWA network only delivers up to 20 Mbps. So how does that extra router speed help you? It normally doesn’t.

Now, if you are a graphic or video artist creating and transferring large files between workstations within your home office, then, sure, a faster router will help you. But that situation is rather rare.

No, the typical 300 Mbps speeds of lower-cost routers will be just fine for 99% of our members.

You May Still Want a New Router

But it is true that your old router could still be a source of your slow internet. We’ve had approximately 30 members recently upgrade to our new standard router, the Ubiquiti airCube ISP, and in nearly every case they report much faster speeds.

But it’s not due to a special high-speed radio inside—no, the airCube uses the traditional 2.4 Ghz home-network band and it plays well with our systems.

Rather, the improvement the people who upgrade to our new router see is due to this: many old routers, as they age, just get slower and slower. Lot’s of reasons for that, but it’s true.

So, it still may make sense to get a new router. If you do want one, please let us configure a new airCube for you. It’s inexpensive, it’s simple, and it works well. But mainly we like it because it allows LCWA techs to do remote diagnostics if you report an internet problem, giving you faster resolutions.

Usually, but not Always, the Router

Note, however, while the router is usually the issue, it’s not always the router that leads to speed problems. In fact, we list 16 reasons you might be experiencing slow speeds in this article. Take a look at that article to get a feel for the various causes. Some you can self-diagnose and self-fix.

If Unsure, Get a Loaner

If you are unsure why things are slow, give LCWA Tech Support a call (800-536-6149, choice #2) and we’ll look remotely at your system. If we cannot diagnose a different reason, we will configure and loan you a new airCube router to see if that clears things up, and only charge you if it fixes things.